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Chapter 76: Everything Adds Up.
🕑 Added 2024-07-15 13:34:32 +0000 UTCChapter 76: Everything Adds Up.
I was sitting on a couch. In what could only be described as a disgustingly opulent palace. Even by the standards of the UM general security council. Unfocused eyes staring out into the distance. Trying really hard to come to terms with what my grandson, or rather, the supersized crazy-eyes freak supermodel claiming to be my grandson was telling me.
“So, you see, I have to be considered a good person when you add up all the things I managed to accomplish in the last 22 or so hours. I understand that it can get a little complicated, so I’ll go over them again. Firstly, I, Solomon Carter, singlehandedly ended slavery worldwide. It turns out that there were millions living the equivalent of modern-day slavery in a ton of third-world countries and some first-world ones. I reckon I saved some 81 million people or so. Which I’m pretty sure makes me the greatest emancipator in all of human history. But that’s not all. I also replaced all modern dictatorships with functioning democracies led by people I personally vetted through the most rigorous assessment process ever conceived. That is, I went deep into their minds. Like, really, really deep. Some of them might be somewhat damaged. But that’s okay. Because I saw the future and I know they’ll do a good job. Also, I am not ruling the world nor am I mind-enslaving anyone to do my bidding. It is very important that you understand that. Okay? Are you with me so far?”
He was pointing at a graph again. Showing me a detailed breakdown of numbers on the board.
My eyes glazed over them as I silently shifted them away from the colourful lines and over to the monster’s eyes. They were, so very similar to Reggie’s eyes. So very similar to my own, that I was having trouble disproving his words.
‘No. This, thing, cannot be Sully. I remember my grandson. A good kid with a good upbringing. Someone who followed the rules. Someone with a good set of morals. Who always tried to help if he could. This, couldn’t be him.’
“Right. So, we’re still on that. Okay. Sure. I didn’t want to do this so soon because I’ve been noticing some, delicate side-effects, but I guess it can’t be helped right now.”
The memories came like a punch. No, like the feeling of being run over by several freight trains while a gorilla played the drums on my skull. I got as far as the speech, when the stream of tortures finally cut out. I heaved, watching in mute horror as the floor opened up like a hungry maw and devoured the contents of my stomach. Whisking them away as if they’d never been there in the first place.
“Now then, are you okay grandpa?”
“I’m gonna gut those fucking gnomes!”
Sully gave me an enthusiastic thumbs up.
“That’s my grandpa for you! Two seconds into the fight and already up and running! I’m so proud!”
He placed a hand on my shoulder and I stiffened as all my cells started to shift. Re-aligning themselves until I felt ten years younger, then twenty, then thirty. My lungs almost collapsing as they struggled to draw in air.
My head started clearing up, as my body regained some measure of composure.
“Now then, back to the board. I also saved millions, yes, millions of lives from monster attacks worldwide. Not just in Hong Kong. And not just in the moment mind you. No, I assure you that I, your grandson, have made it so that a significant portion of the population has been endowed with powers. Also, I have sent psychic projections to all those I deemed suitable and, encouraged them to behave appropriately. In accordance to the status and station of heroes. No longer will false heroes be a problem in our world. No longer will the public have to cower in fear of villains and other rogue Espers. No sir. Not anymore. I’m sure you will appreciate what a big deal this is, as so much of the word-wide military budget goes to heroes and defense.”
He started pointing at other lines in the graph. Proudly tracing their patterns as they went down and down and down.
“Not only that, I also solved the addiction epidemic. By visiting each and every addict on earth at the same time via Telepathy and…”
He hesitated for a moment.
“Letting out a bit of my, uh, presence? Charisma? Yes, let’s go with that. By letting out a bit of my charisma and re-arranging their expectations a little, I have made it so that no one else craves narcotics to a self-destructive degree, ever again. While I was at it, I also solved homelessness, food shortages, inflation, the job crisis, political corruption, crumbling infrastructure, judicial corruption, thefts, murders, gang violence, organized crime; actually, lets roll that up into crime in general, as well as war. Yes, you heard me right. The few wars that were still raging have all been fixed. By me. Because the leaders have either been replaced or have been educated as to what will happen to them if I ever come back to find… grandpa? Grandpa why are you crying?”
I couldn’t help it. This was madness. Utter, complete lunacy.
This place, the Labyrinth. What it did to my grandson. I couldn’t…
“No. No! It’s not bad grandpa. It’s not bad. Okay? I have got it completely under control now. I have everything laid out and planned. Periwig is not going to burn down our world. Okay? I’ll stop him. I have everything under control.”
There was loud pop beside us and the thing that crawled out of Desmond’s corpse started juggling severed heads just out the window.
“Mittens is here! Mittens adheres! Mittens will hunt all the sinners! Mittens will eat all their livers! Mittens delivers!”
Sully picked up a lamp and threw it at the horror. Hitting it square in the head.
It gave a surprisingly cute-sounding yelp. Almost feline in nature, before the thing slinked out of sight.
“Okay, that? I did not teach him to say that grandpa. I don’t know where he picked it up?”
“Was one of those heads general Lemay’s? Why did it have no eyes?”
“Never mind that grandpa! Do not believe your lying eyes! Look at the chart! Look at all the bad lines going down while the standard of living numbers that I extrapolated keep going up and up and up! Someone that did all of this has to be a good person! On top of that, I took steps to get you into the Labyrinth! See, you can’t go directly from a normal world into it, but you can go from Pandemonium into it! You just relax here and before you know it, we’ll be setting you up with all sorts of powers! You can be strong. Safe from anyone else who might be inclined to hurt you. Mind you, I never revealed my name to anyone I shared memories with, but I figured you had enough enemies by yourself that taking precautions wasn’t a bad idea.”
He was waving around his hands in a manner that was disturbingly reminiscent of someone high on five different kinds of stimulants. With the appropriate manic twinkles in his eyes to boot.
“Anyway, powers! Not like the rigid ones we’re used to seeing either! Real, flexible, growing powers! I’ve been taking the initiative to find ways to circumvent the usual rules of the Labyrinth so this and dad and mom’s rescues would be feasible. Why, I’ve even been considering how to address the problem of gnomes beyond Periwig! I’ve been labouring night and day to find a solution that will put all of the ones I [Dominate] to good use. First, we build what I call penal legions and then, grandpa? Why are you crying harder!?”
Toad-face came over then. Jostling a paper in his hands.
“Supreme one! I as always, am humbled by your presence and blessed by your attention! I have finished writing up the plans for the gnomish…!”
“Not now!” Sully barked. “You’re upsetting my grandpa! Bring it to me later!”
Toad-face kowtowed at once. His amphibian forehead striking the marble tiles on the floor.
“So sorry! Supreme one! I shall endeavor that it never happens again!”
Toad-face disintegrated before my eyes. Leaving in a loud pop of imploding air.
“Right then, where were we? Yes, the chart. So, you see here. You don’t need to be upset. I have vastly improved the living conditions worldwide and have begun making plans to stop the phenomenon of Rifts altogether. Not only that, but I have my sights set on further improvements to humanity’s place in the universe. First, we start up all the space programs again. I’ve already set all the world’s leaders on that path, but us getting back will really kickstart the whole thing. I will use my abilities to endow spaceships with powers and sentience and then we’ll colonize Mars using powers in roughly ten or so years. I will use the Drake’s abilities to develop plankton and plant life that can start creating an ozone layer, as well as fill up the planet with oxygen. From there, we’ll use portals to travel to and from the planet. Much cheaper than rockets and more sustainable in the long term. That will have to do until I’ve gotten my hands on some gnomish ships. There will be an abundance of them after I’ve finished enacting the first stages of… grandpa!? Grandpa don’t cry!”
I couldn’t stop myself.
This was all so wrong. I, I couldn’t know where to begin unravelling the whole thing.
‘My grandson! What have they done to my grandson!?’
“I mean, that’s a bit of a loaded question grandpa. I haven’t even shown you the worst of… actually, never mind that.”
He began shrinking. Deflating like a balloon before my very eyes. Until he started resembling the youth I used to know.
Then, he hugged me. Tightly.
“I’m sorry grandpa. I’m sorry I’m not doing a better job of explaining. I… I just want to make the best of the situation. I want to leave a positive impact wherever I go.”
He separated himself from me and I saw the moisture on his eyes.
“I want to protect you and dad and mom. I want to make you all proud of me.”
I was too stunned to act, until the old instincts overcame me. I hugged him back. As tightly as I could.
“Damn it Sully! I’m not angry at you. I’m… I’m scared. About this whole thing. About what you’ve been going through. This is a bunch of nonsense but, but I thought you were dead! Above all, I’m glad you’re alive. We can work through anything else.”
We stayed like that for a few more moments, until I separated from him again.
“Now, tell me as much as you can. I won’t pry if you don’t want me to. But I need to know everything about Reggie and about this invasion. I… I don’t know if Reggie ever told you what I do for a living, but I’m no stranger to tough choices. We’ll get through this together.”
“Yes.” Sully said. “Together.”
“Huh.” I said, scratching my head at the revelations.
“So, you two actually know each other?”
“Yes.” Grandpa confirmed. “Me and Mr. Park here go way back. From before the war, in fact. I had heard of his, unfortunate disappearance, but I chalked it up to, uh, political reasons.”
Mr. Park nodded sagely.
“It would not be the first time someone among the ranks let their displeasure be known whilst accompanied by the wrong listeners. These things are a, how would you say it? A known factor in the field. No job comes without risk and the kind of job we had also gave us myriad benefits to compensate for any indiscretions we might be asked to perform.”
His words were polite. As were his mannerism. Yet the meaning could not be denied.
Grandpa and Mr. Park, had both been in the same business of handling super heroes. A job that I was beginning to learn came with, certain expectations.
In other words. Both grandpa and Mr. Park were killers. Or worse.
Both of them were aware of the existence of corruption and both of them had aided and abetted that corruption. Regardless of their personal feelings.
Was that messed up?
Oh yeah.
Did I really care that much?
Nope. Not really.
In fact, my heart was surprisingly at peace, now that I was fully aware of all the atrocities I was responsible for. Partly because I was, well, a child at the time and couldn’t really control anything too well and partly because… the others had had a point. The past couldn’t be changed.
Not unless you were merely an apparition borne out a possible future envisioned by [Precognition], but that was neither here nor there.
The point was, I was responsible for my own actions going forward. Me and no one else.
Yeah, what I did was unforgivable by any standards, but it didn’t define who I was now.
Only I could do that.
And I meant for all my actions to count.
Prudence raised a hand then. Looking a bit blue.
“Sorry, Sully? I didn’t know it was possible to people to come into the Labyrinth. When did you figure this out?”
“Oh, a day or so ago when I had a bout of, introspection.” I explained. “I looked deep inside myself and figured that it was a loophole that could be explored. Since, of course, I can rely on the System to bring my body from an Excursion to the Labyrinth and I can pretty much access the realm known as, Pandemonium wherever I happen to be. Therefore, anyone who can safely stay in there for a couple of minutes can also come here.”
She furrowed her brows. As did many others.
“I mean, I’m happy for you and everything, but, won’t this have consequences? From the System?”
I had to laugh. “Yes, Prudence. This will have consequences. In fact the System should be figuring out what to do just about… now.”
I turned to grandpa, expectantly.
He nodded.
“I have a screen now. But, I don’t know. I feel dizzy.”
“That’s normal.” I told him. “All of us were knocked out when we arrived. Sleep it off and we’ll all follow up with you tomorrow.”
Grandpa nodded, though only half-heartedly. Truth be told, the fact that he was still on his feet was a miracle.
I caught him as he went down. Holding him close and growing my body so that I could carry him more easily.
The transformation, was not lost on the others.
“Sully! You finally got a second Type!” Kaito exclaimed eagerly. “Nice going man!”
“Thank you. It was nothing really. Charlie got Shifter as a third Type and Borislav unlocked all four. I can only guess that it was due to the stress of the situation. We worked very hard for all these gains, after all.”
Kaito was coming over with excitement. Slapping me jovially in the back and asking if I had any tips. The others seemed to relax as well, until the other screens came up.
System Notice:
Additional members of the relevant species are not to be brought in until after the Tutorial is over.
System Enforcers will be dispatched in order to punish the rule breaker.
System Notice:
System Enforcers: Borublik, Yortog Hun, Ramasham Tor Pod, and Bloody Flayer have been contracted to punish Student: Solomon Carter.
System Enforcers: Borublik, Yortog Hun, Ramasham Tor Pod, and Bloody Flayer, have been granted access to Solomon Carter’s full Status.
Name:
Solomon Carter
Psy:
209, 101, 800 / 209, 612, 800
Type:
Telepath V Level 212 / Shifter II Level 55
Telepath Abilities:
[Solomon’s Inescapable Domination X] 35 / [Solomon’s Overwhelming Avatar X] 35 / [Solomon’s Inexorable Presence X] 25 / [Solomon’s Limited Omniscience X] 23 / [Solomon’s Impenetrable Obfuscation X] 14 / [Solomon’s Righteous Indignation X] 12 / [Solomon’s Enduring Empathy X] 17 / [Solomon’s Empowering Majesty X] 11
Shifter Abilities:
[Solomon’s Perfect Vicissitude X] 12 / [Solomon’s Protean Form X] 12 / [Solomon’s Bio-Chemical Thaumaturgy X] 7
Ability Points:
7
Title: Crown Shard of the Lonely Despot.
A fragment of divinity, resulting from forging one’s own power.
This title makes it so only the wielder may dispel their own mind-controlling effects.
This title negates the Psy cost of mind-controlling effects used on those below the wielder’s current Tier.
This title degrades mind-controlling immunity of affected targets to mind-controlling resistance.
This title doubles Total Psy.
“Weary are they who bear the burden of leadership.”
Title: Crown Shard of the Cruel Judge.
A fragment of divinity, resulting from forging one’s own power.
This title makes the wielder immune to all mind-altering effects at or below Tier X; with the exception of the wielder’s own.
This title quadruples the Psy cost of abilities used against the wielder.
This title makes it so that all compatible targets within the wielder’s senses cannot form negative memories involving the wielder unless the wielder wishes it.
This title makes it so that compatible targets within the wielder’s senses cannot think about harming or otherwise inconveniencing the wielder unless they spend 10 Psy per Tier in order to do so. Targets that run out of Psy or are otherwise unable to resist lose all memories of wanting to harm the wielder.
This title doubles Total Psy.
“There can be no innocence. Only degrees of guilt.”
Title: Crown Shard of the Wizened Prophet.
A fragment of divinity, resulting from forging one’s own power.
This title makes it so the wielder occasionally experiences bursts of Enlightenment.
This title makes it so the wielder occasionally interacts with non-real alternate versions of themselves.
This title makes so that hidden knowledge is revealed to the wilder at random intervals.
This title provides a constant +1 Bonus to all ability levels.
This title doubles Total Psy.
“Distant Storms are foreseen amidst the fog.”
Title: Crown Shard of the Chained Poet.
A fragment of divinity, resulting from forging one’s own power.
This title makes it so only forces above Tier X may dispel the wielder’s illusions or seal the wielder’s conjured Intruders.
This title makes it so that all of the wielder’s Telepath abilities gain a +1 to effective level per every 10 levels of active reality degradation.
This title anchors a domain within Pandemonium with the wielder’s power and decorates it to the wielder’s tastes.
This title allows the wielder and the wielder’s Avatar to drag willing mortal minds into the wielder’s domain in order to re-shape them into Intruders. These actions can be performed shortly after death, though not after brain death. Performing these actions on a living creature will result in the brain death of said creature. Physical contact is required.
This title allows the wielder and the wielder’s Avatar to physically travel to and from their domain at will and to grant access to willing or dominated creatures or minds. Creatures whose minds travel to the wielder’s domain in this manner will not become Intruders and will not suffer brain death unless their bodies expire while their minds are away. Physical contact is required.
This title doubles total Psy.
“Woe to they who lose their grip on reality.”
Title: Crown Shard of the Hidden Hand.
A fragment of divinity, resulting from forging one’s own power.
This title makes it so only forces at or above the wielder’s own Tier may peer through their stealth effects.
This title makes it so that all of the wielder’s Telepath abilities gain a +2 to effective level while the wielder is hidden.
This title makes it so that the wielder can more easily sense other stealth effects.
This title doubles total Psy.
“Hidden voices whisper doom. Hidden whispers voice defiance.”
Title: Crown Shard of the Hooded Headsman.
A fragment of divinity, resulting from forging one’s own power.
This title makes it so that psionic damage against all viable targets is doubled per every Tier the wielder has above the target’s own.
This title makes it so that the wielder is immune to psionic damage below the wielder’s own Tier.
This title makes it so that targets suffering from psionic damage caused by the wielder must spend 50 psy per second until they exit the wielder’s senses or be placed under the full effects of the wielder’s presence. Regardless of distance.
This title doubles total Psy.
“A judgement rendered. A life forsaken.”
Title: Crown Shard of the Proud General.
A fragment of divinity, resulting from forging one’s own power.
This title makes it so that recognized team members passively receive 5% of the wielder’s active team abilities.
This title makes it so that team members gain an additional 20% passive Psy regeneration.
This title makes it so that team members gain an additional +1 to all Telepathic abilities while within the wielder’s own senses.
This title doubles total Psy.
“All the people in their place.”
Title: Crown Shard of the Affable Tyrant.
A fragment of divinity, resulting from forging one’s own power.
This title makes it so that recognized team members passively retain 20% effects from the wielder’s buff after they exit the wilder’s senses for a period of 15 hours.
This title makes it so that team members gain an additional +1 to all abilities while benefiting from the wielder’s buffs.
This title doubles total Psy.
“All will love me and despair.”
Title: Crown Shard of the Lurking Antediluvian.
A fragment of divinity, resulting from forging one’s own power.
This title makes it so that the wielder and any being the wielder has affected with his Shifter healing abilities stops aging entirely. The wielder’s cells will not decay due to entropy, nor will those cells that have been affected by the wielder.
This title makes it so that the wielder may regenerate out of any tissue they have bestowed abilities on in the case of death. The tissue must be a living part of a living being.
This title provides a constant +1 Bonus to all ability levels.
This title doubles total Psy.
“Perfection in perpetuity.”
Title: Crown Shard of the Hulking Behemoth.
A fragment of divinity, resulting from forging one’s own power.
This title makes it so that the wielder’s self modifications cannot be forcefully dispelled unless the wielder wishes it. Unconsciousness or grievous injury will not bring the wielder out of their assumed form.
This title makes it so that all affected tissues have a natural regeneration rate and Psy regeneration rate of +50%.
This title doubles total Psy.
“Exultation made flesh.”
Title: Crown Shard of the Vile Despoiler.
A fragment of divinity, resulting from forging one’s own power.
This title makes it so that the targets of the wielder’s forceful modifications remain under the wielder’s influence for 5 hours following their last contact with the wielder.
This title makes it so that the targets of the wielder’s forceful modifications must succeed in excising the affected tissue within 1 hour or continuously remain within the wielder’s influence, so long as they are within the wielder’s senses. This effect ends when all affected tissues are excised.
This title makes it so that all affected tissues have a natural regeneration rate and Psy regeneration rate of +20%.
This title doubles total Psy.
“All things from the primordial soup.”
System Notice:
System Enforcers: Borublik and Yortog Hun have suffered sudden fatal heart attacks.
System Enforcers: Orphan Maker and Guantargo have been automatically selected for replacement.
System Enforcers: Ramasham Tor Pod, Bloody Flayer, Orphan Maker and Guantargo are feigning fatal heart attacks.
System will enforce the contracts.
Sure enough, those words brought the shimmers to the room at once. Carrying their payloads into our safe zone.
Orphan Maker was the first. Dropping down like a ton of bricks and kowtowing without being asked.
“Master!! Precious Master!!!! Lovely Master!!!! It wasn’t me!!!! I had nothing to do with it!!!!!! Pleeeeaaaaaassssseeeeee!!!!!”
The others didn’t bother. Breaking out in all directions of teleporting past the walls of the Warehouse with a speed that Charlie couldn’t even imagine.
Not that it did them any favours. I no longer had a maximum range, after all.
I sighed and figured I might as well get some goodies from them. Its not like I could do anything else, until Peachy heard back from Granny Golden.
